ślóka m. (prob. connected with √ 1. śru, [R. i, 2, 33] gives a fanciful derivation fr. śoka, ‘sorrow’, the first having been composed by Vālmīki grieved at seeing a bird killed) sound, noise (as of the wheels of a carriage or the grinding of stones &c.), [RV.]
a call or voice (of the gods), [ib.]
fame, renown, glory, praise, hymn of praise, [ib.]; [AV.]; [TS.]; [Br.]; [BhP.]
a proverb, maxim, [MW.]
a stanza, (esp.) a partic. kind of common epic metre (also called Anu-ṣṭubh q.v.; consisting of 4 Pādas or quarter verses of 8 syllables each, or 2 lines of 16 syllables each, each line allowing great liberty except in the 5th, 13th, 14th and 15th syllables which should be unchangeable as in the following scheme, 8. 1. 8-8., the dots denoting either long or short; but the 6th and 7th syllables should be long; or if the 6th is short the 7th should be short also), [ŚBr.]; [KauṣUp.]; [MBh.] &c.
N. of a Sāman, [ĀrṣBr.]